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There have been some spectacular thunder storms here over the past week – and as much as I like going out in them some rain-days have given me time to reflect on and develop my big pile of on-site sketches. I work with the windows open during a storm – the sound of the rain and thunder is energising!

Following my observational drawings of objects, I have now began to bring them together into patterns that can be repeated and also work as stand alone images. Here in town there’s a youth centre – Epic – which has brilliant facilities for screen printing – perfect! Last night I was there setting up the photo stencils / exposing my third and fourth screens ready for printing this evening. We are having an open day here at Kraftverket tomorrow – so I hope to have these prints ready to display.

Here are the first two screen prints – some dancing Dala farmers, inspired by a cake tin and the forest, and a pattern featuring the extra Swedish letter keys on a vintage typewriter. I have purposely printed them onto fabric purchased from second hand shops.

Here is a sneak preview of a paper cut design and an illustrated pattern, both of which I will be screen printing onto fabric tonight.

I have also spent some time sketching people. Last Saturday we took a trip to Vadstena, a pretty older town at the edge of lake Vättern, the second largest in Sweden. It was a blisteringly hot day so most of the time was spent sitting in shade in the park, and then hopping over the wall to jump into the lake.

This week we attended a talk by two men who used to work in the fur industry here in Tranas. One was an expert in preparing the fur, and the other a designer who had made garments for the queen of Sweden.

Here is a character sketch of some of the men who worked in the machine factory, which is now Kraftverket. I’m going to play with this some more digitally to add some loose colour to parts of the image.

I’ve been working in a few different spaces to create work – within shops, in my studio here, and also in the garden. I’ve found that my work looks more precise, or evocative, or loose depending on where I’m sat, It’s pretty windy out there today – perhaps another storm is on the way – but I’m hoping to get outside with my sketchbook for a bit. And if the storm does arrive I may even attempt some painting out there anyway – to experiment with new techniques incorporating the rain drops…

I have spent the last week photographing, drawing and colouring objects from the shelves of second hand shops. The placement of the objects around the shop is sometimes intentionally interesting and other times accidental or dependent on the space available. So sometimes a sewing box will sit near to a deer skull, a scary plastic doll not far from a potato masher, and so on. I love these combinations! They raise questions and are the beginnings of stories – how did these unwanted, valuable or curious things from different places end up sharing a shelf, or shop floor?

I am grateful to Udda Ting and Inspirationab for their hospitality – and to the Swedish artists at the residency for teaching me some basic explanations to ask to draw in each shop. Christina and Christian who own Inspirationab were so kind – they made me a cup of coffee and space to draw, as well as introducing me, and my project, to their customers. I’m going back there on Friday and hope to visit other shops across Tranås throughout my stay.

I have several washing lines of these images! From them I am designing patterns, using various media – paper stencil, gouache and even some screen printing at the Epic youth centre at the end of the week. Every day I’ve been noticing patterns – in the combinations of these objects, in the windows of buildings, patterns on birch tree bark, reflections in the lake and of course the constellation of insect bites building around my knees. I am drawn to both their simple repetition and more complex constructions.

I also visited the fur museum and drew some of the machines, tools and coats created at the height of the industry here in Tranas. Here are a few sketches. The models in the photographs look like paintings, with their smoky 60s eye make up.

Kraftverket, the building where we are staying, was a factory to make machines before it housed the fur production. The grandson of the man who built the factory in the early 1900s came to the building to visit us and brought with him photographs of the workers sat outside the building as well as the mechanics and work inside. The original window arches are beautiful (the building is now plastered). The men sport fantastic moustaches. I wonder what they are thinking – I’m planning a few character studies here. It’s fascinating to learn about the previous incarnations of the building – now that the industry and founders are gone, it is important that its stories are remembered. From copies of two of the images, I created the this collage which combines the outside and the inside of the building.

This week we went on a road trip and visited Vandalorum, an exhibition venue for Swedish and international contemporary art and design. The building is designed by Renzo Piano, creator of the Pompidou centre and the Shard. It is three large barn-like buildings, joined with glass corridors to allow for time to reflect between exhibitions. There we encountered the work of Swedish designer Mats Theselius in his solo show, The Universe of Mats Theselius. He is an avid collector of objects – lego, saucepans, drums, spoons, Braun hair dryers, National Geographic Magazines…and these objects have inspired his design of furniture in unique ways. A Yamaha drum, and a chair that shares many of the stylistic features are displayed together; a cabinet made to measure for a collection of magazines; a coat based on the patterns of birch bark. He has also created a ‘flat pack’ piece entitled The Hermit’s Cabin. Photos below.

It was perfect timing for my project with objects (and my enthusiasm for typography, packaging and functional design). I have some ideas for new work inspired by Theselius’ approach.

Last weekend we went to Colm’s allotment. The sheds here are as beautiful as the houses, with some people having a full on painted cabin on their patch. We harvested peas, raspberries, blackcurrants….and on Sunday afternoon I made some body scrub from the lavender collected. Oats, lavender and olive oil…a complete guess but it works a treat.

For the rest of the week I’ll be preparing some images for screen printing and developing the pattern work. I’ll be running a workshop on book making at the Tranas Library next Thursday 8th August and going to Malmo next Tuesday to explore. Our morning swims are continuing – as are our meetings with the cat who seems very keen on our breakfast.

Last Wednesday 17 July I arrived in Tranås, Jönköping County, to be an artist-in-residence for almost 6 weeks. For someone who works full time, I see this as a wonderful opportunity to devote my time to creating new art work in a country that inspires me. I am joined by 7 other artists and it’s going to be interesting to see how we all respond to the experience, developing connections and exploring the area.

Above is where we are staying. The stage is quite a new addition, and I love the yellow benches! Eva and Colm are our hosts from Kultivera have given us a warm welcome here, to our home and studio for our time here. It is located near to the train line where long and very fast trains whoosh through and you can feel it on the windows. The noise really doesn’t bother me though – it’s dramatic!

There are a lot of lakes around here, from small secluded jetties stretching into deep pools in the woods, to the magnificent Sommen lake about half an hour’s drive away. Sommen has 365 bigger and smaller islands upon it, one for each day of the year! The lakes are clear and not so cold during the day time and there are many places where you can swim. Every morning since arriving, Hanneke and I have been walking up to a little lake called Trollsjön, which translates as Troll Lake. It’s magical! It’s quiet there and completely refreshing. I’ve now managed to swim to the other side (it’s pretty small, mind) and have found that the exercise has made me very productive during the day, not to mention working wonders to balance my blood sugars.

As we’ve been eating breakfast there, for the last two days we’ve been joined by a very friendly cat!

Last weekend there was a music festival in one of Tranås’ parks called Pop i Gapet, featuring local and more nationally acclaimed bands. We all went down both days, I particularly enjoyed Kristian Anttilla and Lissi Dancefloor Disaster – follow the links here to check them out. Although I missed her set, Amanda Selinder was also playing and she is one of the residents here at Kultivera.

My fellow residents

The parks here are so clean – litter really doesn’t seem to feature – and there’s a stunning walk taking you along the river and then back through the woods. We discovered a little cabin yesterday!

A big highlight and inspiration for me, so far, has been the second hand shops! I have counted 7 so far, ranging from antiques and more ‘curated’ shops, as it were, to rooms piled high with curiosities, crockery, old tools, radios and toys. There’s also a Red Cross shop where old men drink tea. My favourite goes by the name of ‘Udda Ting’ (translates as Odd Things). It’s got everything – a lot of vintage kitchenware and textiles incorporating Swedish designs.

I have therefore decided to begin an illustration project drawing the array of objects that end up in second hand shops – people’s possessions and collections that end up there when unwanted, or when those people have moved house or passed on. I’m exploring a few themes and ideas, as well as hoping to do some pattern work inspired by the older / classic Swedish motifs found on objects. We’ll see what happens with that!

Tranås was once the fur capital of Scandinavia although the industry has now declined. The place where we are staying, I think, was a fur factory, and pelts were shipped in from across the world. What is left in the town is a museum that documents and displays the tools, machinery and techniques used within the process. I’ve called in briefly, and plan to go back to look at this in more detail and learn about an important part of the town’s history. Here is a rather nice old map of where the fur was sourced from.

Today has mainly involved a road trip in Elis’ car to Sommen, where we watched some young people put on a play about Pirates. This Thursday I’ll be drawing in Udda Ting, and then on Saturday doing much of the same in Inspirationab where there are more antiques. There’s so much still to explore, and to learn (more Swedish phrases!), and I’m enjoying myself so much already.

I’ve joined Instagram too – have a look here for some more photos. There’s also my Facebook page too where I’ll be posting up artwork and links. I’m going to try and blog each week with images of my work and adventuring.